Drugs gang jailed for 18 years

A drugs gang put under police surveillance for a year, have been jailed for a total of 18 years.

The seven defendants pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and crack cocaine as well as obtaining goods by deception, when they appeared at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court.

They were arrested after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) set up Operation Confidence in November 2002.

Detectives filmed the gang doing deals in the Ashton-under-Lyne area of Greater Manchester, with those buying the drugs often using stolen credit cards and cheques.

On Thursday GMP said the surveillance was concentrated on a house in Burlington Street, Ashton, from where the drugs were stored and distributed.